Coin controlled mechanism



Ap 1936- F. c. DU GRENIER 2,037,462

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed 001:. 29, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 193.6. F. c. DU GRENIER 2,037,462

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed Oct. 29, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet s l aim v mm April 1936- F. c. DU GRENIER 2,037,462

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANI SM Filed Oct. 29, 1935 4 Shee ts-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 14, 1936 PATENT OFFICE com con'momizn MECHANISM Francis 0. Du Grenier, Havel-hill, Masa, assignor of one-hall to Blanche E. Bouchard, Haverhill,

Mass.

Application October 29, 1935, Serial No. 47,255

14 Claims.

, This invention relates to that class of vending machines in which the dispensing mechanism is normally released upon the insertion of a plurality of coins and which are primarily designed for vending packages or cigarettes, which at the present time are sold at prices ranging from 10 to 20 cents per package.

In many States a tax of several cents is levied on each package of cigarettes sold, which is collected at the time or the sale, and if a tax of 2 cents, for example, is levied on a package of cigarettes selling for 15 cents, it is considered that the most practical way of handling the sale in a vending machine is to require the purchaser to place 20 cents in the machine and have the machine deliver 3 cents change with the package, this being done by the simple method of arranging a change ejector in connection with the package ejector, so that, when the latter is operat- 0 ed, the necessary change will be delivered.

As no sales tax is required in many States, there is a demand for a machine of this type which may be operated when cents is placed in the machine, and it is therefore desirable that a machine be produced which may be employed, by making adjustments, to vend packages at either 15 or cents, or at. an intermediate price.

The primary object of my invention is to produce a machine of the above described type which, by making asimple. adjustment of a part of the coin controlled mechanism, may be converted from a machine which will release the locking mechanism when 3 nickels and a dime have been inserted, to amachine which will release it when 4 nickels, or 2 nickels and a dime have been inserted.

A further object is to provide a single device for releasing the locking means of the dispens-' i0 ing mechanism which will be operative on the insertion of the several coins which are required for delivery of a package, as for example a nickel and a dime, or three nickels, or in case the amount to be inserted is 20 cents, two nickels and 4.5 a dime, or four nickels.

Another object is to provide a simple attachment whereby one or more of the dispensing devices may be released on the insertion of a single coin, as when it is desired to vend some of 50 the packages at 10 cents.

Further objects are to provide a simplified form of coin controlled mechanism in which all coins in excess of the required number will be immediately returned to the purchaser, or in 55 which the purchaser may secure the. return of all coins which have been inserted prior to the operation of the dispensing mechanism.

I accomplish these objects, and other objects to be referred to, by means of the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the ac-' 5 companying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a view in elevation of the coin con,- trolled mechanism, embodying my invention, which is mounted on the right hand end of the machine casing. 1

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, at line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, at line 3-3 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with some of the parts removed, showing the adjustment for 4 5 nickels, or 2 nickels and a dime.

Fig. 5 'is a viewof the parts as adjusted in Fig. 4, in a difierent position, and as viewed from the opposite side.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the coin supporting 20 member.

Fig. 7 is a detail view, similar to Fig. 5, showing the adjustment for operation by 3 nickels, or 1 nickel and a dime.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing a dime in position on its support.

Fig. 9 is a view illustrating the operation by a dime only.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view at line Illof Fig. 9.

Fig. l1 is a sectional view at line ll-ll of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view illustrating the action of the releasing dog and associated parts. 35

In general, the machine illustrated is of the common type in which a series of vertical package containing columns I3 (Figs. 3 and 10) are provided, at the bottom or each of which a reciprocating ejector I4 is provided which is operated by a handle I5. In normal'operation a handle is pulled out, so that the bottom package in the corresponding column falls in the rear of the ejector to which the handle is attached and the package is ejected into the passage l6, on the return movement, so that it slides down and is delivered on the tray H at the front of the machine. Each ejector is provided with a hook l8, which is arranged to engage a crank arm 20, said arm extending the entire width of the machine and being pivotally mounted in the casing at each end, so that, when any ejector is pulled forward, the arm is swlmg forward thereby, the movement being permitted or prevented according to whether the arm is locked e sed by a pawl 24,

or unlocked at its bearings. A segment'22 is secured on the right hand end of crank arm 20 and is provided with teeth arranged to be enso that, when a dispensin operation is started, the ejector must be pulled out tov its limit before it can be retumed by spring 2|, which is attached to segment 22. A locking lever 26 is mounted on a pivot 21 which passes through a longitudinal slot 28 mt an initial longitudinal movement 'of the lever thereon, and said lever has a notch 23 therein, which receives the top end of a rigid-arm 30 on the segment 22, said lever being normally held down on said arm by a spring 32. With this arrangement, if any one of the handles I5 is pulled out, a slight-outward movement of lever 26 will first be permitted sufiicientto operate levers 34 and 36, by a cam 31 on lever 26, which engages lever 34 and acts, through lever 36, to dislodge and return any coins or slugs which may have been intercepted by the coin testing means (not shown), and then the lever 26 will lock the segment 22 against further swinging movement, so

that further outward movement of the ejector to which the handle is attached will be arrested. 11., however, lever 26 should be lifted out of engagement with the-arm 30 just before the looking action takes place, the movement will be permitted.

The means whereby thedispensing mechanism will be unlocked on the insertion of suitable coins will now be described.

According to my invention two main coinreceiving passages 38 and are provided, which are arranged side by side, (see Fig. 2) and into which the coins are discharged from the coin testing means, in the present instance the passage 38 being adapted to receive a nickel and the 46 passage 40 a dime, and a branch passage 39 leads from one side of the passage 38. It will be understood that the entrances to said main passages are at the front of the machine, as is customary.

A coin supporting member 42, shown in detail in Fig. 6, is mounted on pivots 43 at its lower end, so that it may be swung outward from the casing against the action of a spring 44. Said member is provided with three coin-supporting shelves 45, 46, 41, which project at right angles therefrom, the shelves45 and 46 being formed integrally therewith and the shelf of a right angularly shaped strip, the shank portion of which is attached to member 42 by screws 48, which pass thru a longitudinal slot 43 therein, so that the position of the shelf 41 may be vertically adjusted by merely loosening screws 48 and moving the part up or down. The shelf 45 extends into the dime slot 40, so that when a dime is placed in the passage it will come to rest thereon, as shown in Fig. 8. The shelf 41 extends into the lower end. portion of the nickel slot 38, and, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, may be adjusted to two positions. In the position shown in Fig. 5 it is adjusted to support two nickels on edge, so that one rests on the other, and in the position of'Fig. 7 .a single nickel only will come to rest thereon. The adjustment is such that the topmost coin of the two coins and the single coin will be held in substantially the same positions, in which position, if an additional nickel is placed in the slot,- it will strike thetopmost nickel, or the single nickel, as the'case may be, and will be deflected into the branch passage 39 and will come .to rest on the shelf '46, which is located at the bottom thereof. The shelf 46 is so arranged that two nickels may be placed in the therein, to per- 41 consisting mately the same level as the top edge of the so that they will rest edge to dime, as indicated by the dotted line positions of Fig. 12. It is not to be understood that the dime and the top nickel in the branch passage will both be supported in this position at the same time. To prevent such an occurrence a retaining device for the dime is provided which consists of an arm 50, which is suspended from a pivot 5| and has two fingers 52 and 53. (See Fig. 10.) When in normal positionthe finger 52 extends into the dime slot in such a position that it holds the dime on the shelf 45, as shown in Fig. 8, and, if the finger 52 is withdrawn from this position, the dime will immediately roll from the shelf and pass into the coin return passage 58 at the rear thereof and pass down onto the package shelf I. The finger 53 extends into the branch nickel slot 39 and has an inclined end face normally so arranged that when a nickel passes into the branch slot it will engage said inclined face and swing the arm outshown in Fig. 8, and when the finger 52 is withdrawn the dime will immediately fall into the return passage. Consequently, after a nickel has passed into the branch slot, if a dime is inserted it will be immediately returned, 'or if a dime is first inserted and then a nickel passes into the branch slot, the dime will be returned. In either instance the coin last inserted would be in excess of the amount required to unlock the machine and permit the dispensin operation.

On account of the fact that es are thin and by use become worn thinner, difilculty has been encountered in having the dime first inserted act to deflect a second dime, inserted by mistake, into the return passage. For this reason an auxiliary deflector is provided, which consists of a finger 54, mounted on a pivot 55, said finger being normally held by its gravity in a nearly balanced position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and in dotted lines in Fig. 9. The arrangement is such that when a dime comes to rest on the shelf45, it bears against a projection 56 on the finger, and, by its weight, causes the finger to swing slightly, so that its top end then extends into thedime passage to the position shown in Fig. 8, so that after one dime has been inserted, and before the dispensing mechanism is operated, ii a second dime is inserted by mistake, it will strike the top end of finger 54, as indicated in Fig! 8, and be deflected into the return passage 58, which opens into the delivery passage I6.

-- As previously noted, the lever 26 normally locks a releasing as shown in Figs. and '7, and the finger 63 being arranged to be carried into engagement either with the top edge of a dime on the support 45, or with the top edge of the top nickel on the support 46 in the branch passage, as shown in Figs. 5, '7, and 12, said finger 63 extending across both positions, the positions in which the dime and the top nickel in the branch passage are held being at approximately the same level at their top edges, it being understood that at no time are both the dime and the nickels in the branch passage held on their supports, but that either one or the other must be so held to permit release of the dispensing mechanism, as will now be explained.

As thusarranged, on the initial movement of the dispensing mechanism, the lever 26 will be carried forward, causing the fingers 62, 63 of the dog 60 to engage simultaneously the nickel in the main nickel slot, and either a dime in the dime slot or the top nickel in the branch slot, (see Fig. 12) so that,as the lever 26 is drawn forward, the fingers will ride up on the coins, causing the dog to be lifted bodily, thereby lifting the lever 26, so that it will be disengaged from the arm 30, thereby permitting the dispensing operation to be performed. It will be noted that, to make this action possible, both fingers 62 and 63 must be engaged with coins, for if only one of them is engaged, the dog will be merely tilted on its pivot, and no lifting .action on the lever 26 will take place.

As shown in 12, .the dog 60 is also provided .with a third finger 64, which is disposed above finger 62 and functions with the finger 63 under the following conditions, when it is desired to dispense a package from one or more of the columns,

on the insertion of a dime only. e

If a cent package is to be dispensed from the first and second right hand columns, a bracket 65 is mounted on the casing in front of the ejectors of these columns and a bar 66 is slidably mounted thereon, said bar having inclined projections 61, 68 which extend slightly into the paths of the ejeotors, so that, when either ejector is pulled forward, the bar will be moved to the right for a short distance. Said bar 66..extendsthru the end casing and has a finger 69 extending at right angles thereto, (see Figs; 1 and 11). A

spring I0 engages the outer side of finger 69 and normally holds the bar 66 in position to be engaged by the ejectors and also holds finger 69 inan inoperative position. When, however, if

either of the two ejectors are pulled out, itwill imengagement of finger 62 with the nickel in the main nickel slot, as shown in Fig. 12, so that, if a'dime has previously been inserted, the lever 26 will be lifted to its inoperative position, permitting the dispensing operation to be performed.

' A cam face 12 on the's' gment 22 moves into engagement with the inner side of the coin supporting member 42 when the segment has been advanced beyond the position'in which it may be locked by lever 26 and swings the member outward. withdrawinii. the coin supports from beneath the coins which are supported thereon, so that the coins all fall into the money box and are retained.

To insure retention of the dime after the dispensing operation is started, a spring arm 14 is mounted on the casing and has an inturned end portion 14, which is normally held in an inoperative position by a lug 15, on lever 26, when the latter is in its rearmost position. When the lever 26 is moved forward slightly, the spring arm I4 is permitted to'swing inward to a position in which it will prevent a coin on support 45 from passing into the return passage. This arrangement is provided to prevent thedime from being returned after it has functioned to unlock the segment 22 and before it has been discharged into the money box, in case it should be attempted to secure the return of the dime by striking the machine a sharp blow.

Means are also provided for securing the return of all coins which have been inserted at any time before thedispensing operation, is performed.

' This comprises a push rod 16 having a cam face 11, which is arranged to engage an arm F8 on the coin supporting member 42, so that, when the rod is pushed inward, the member will be swung outward, withdrawing the coin supports from beneath the coins. To prevent the coins from falling into the money box, a deflector 80 is provided, which is mounted on a pivot 8| and has a pin 82 projecting outward at its lower end arranged in the path of movement of a projection 83 on the inner end of push rod 16, so that, when rod I6 is pushed inward, the deflector 86 will be swung from the dotted line position of Fig. 3, in which position all coins falling from the coin supports upon their withdrawal will be discharged into the money box, to the full line position of Fig. 3, in whioh position all coins falling from the coin supports will be deflected into the return passage, or package chute I6. The arrangement is such that when rod 16 is pushed inward, the deflector will be swung to coin restoring position before the cam 11 engages the arm 18, and moves out the member 42 sufficiently to dump the coins. It is to benoted that there is no positive connection between the push rod 16 and the deflector 80, so that, when the rod is returned by its spring 84, the deflector will re main in its coin restoring position. The reason for this is, that the operator is liable to push the rod I6 and then permit it to spring baok quickly before all the coins have had time to fall onto the deflector and be returned, so that if the defiector was returned to normal almost instantly, some of the coins might fall into the money box instead of being returned, but, as the deflector remains in coin returning position after the rod springs back to its original position, it is not possible for this to occur.

It is however essential that the deflector 89 be returned to coin receiving position at the beginning of the next dispensing operation and also that the coin returning means be locked against operation as soon as a dispensing operation is started. To perform the latter function, a pin 85 is mounted on the segment 22, which passes into a, slot 86 in the push rod 16, at thebeginning Also a lever 81 of vices are employed at prices between 15 and 20 cents, which are operated by the respective ejectors, but as they constitute no part of the present invention they are neither shown or described.

I claim:

1. In a coin controlled dispensing mechanism,- a pair of coin supports each anism against operative movement, a tiltable releasing device mounted on said locking/device having oppositely disposed races arranged for simultaneous engagement with the edges of coins on saidsupports, means, arranged to be actuated by an initial movement of said dispensing mechanism, to move said locking device to engagesaid faces with coins on said supports and on further movement of said mechanism, to move said lockmg device in a direction to permit the coins to deflect said releasing device laterally and thereby move said locking device to an inoperative position and permit continued operative movement of said mechanism and means operative to discharge the coins from said supports after said mechanism has been moved to a point where it may no longer be locked.

2. In a coin controlled dispensing mechanism, a first main passage and a second main passage for coins of difierent denominations: said first main passage having a branch passage leading therefrom, a coin support at the bottom of each main passage and the branch passage, the support of the first main passage being arranged to support a coin in position to deflect a coin subse quently inserted into said branch passage and the support in the branch passage being arranged to support a plurality 01- coins with the topmost coin adjacent the position in which a coin is held on the support of the second main passage, a locking device normally acting to locktsaid dispensing mechanism against operative movement, a releasing device operative to hold said locking device in an inoperative position, on operative movement oi" said dispensing mechanism, when simultaneously engaged with a coin on said first main passage support and with a coin either on said second main passage support .or on said branch passage support, and means operative to discharge the coins from said supports when said mechanism has been moved beyond a point where it fiiay be locked.

3. Ina coin controlled dispensing mechanism,

a fiIst and a second main passage for coins of different denominations, said first main passage having a branch passage leading therefrom, a coin support at the bottom of each main passage, and at the bottom of said branch passage, the support at the bottom of the first passage being arranged to support a coin in position to deflect a coin subsequently inserted into said branch passage, and the support in said branch passage being arranged to support a plurality of coins with the topmost coin adjacent the position in which a coin on the support or the second main passage is held, a locking device normally disposed to lock said dispensing mechanism against operatin movement, a.v device operative to.

move said locking device to an inoperative position on operative movement 01' said dispensing mechanism, when simultaneously engaging with a coin on the support of the'first main passage and with either a coin on the support oi the second main passage or the topmost coin on the support of said branch passage, and means operative to discharge the coins from said supports when said mechanism has been moved beyond a point where it may be locked.

4. In a coin controlled dispensing mechanism, having a first anda second main passage for coins oi difierent denominations, said first main passage having a branch passage leading therefrom, a coin support at the bottom or both main passages and the branch passage, each arranged to support a coin on edge, the support in said first main passage being arranged to support a coin in position to deflect coins subsequently inserted into said branch passage and the support in said branch passage being arranged to support a plurality of coins one above another edge to edge, so that the topmost coin will be supported side by side with the position in which a coin is supported on the support of said second main passage, a loclging device normally acting to lock said dispensing mechanism against operative movement, releasing means on said looking device arranged for simultaneous engagement with the top edge portion of a coin on said first main passage support and with the top edge portion of either a coin on said second main passage support, or the topmost coin on said branch passage support, said releasing means being operative to hold said locking device in an inoperative position only when thus simultaneously en- 7 gaged, on operative movement 01- said dispensing mechanism,'and means operative to discharge the coins from said supports after said locking device has been moved to inoperative position.

5. In acoin controlled dispensing mechanism,

having 'a first and a second main passage for coins oi difierentdenominations, said first main passage havinga branch passage leading therefrom, a coin support at the bottom of both main passages and the branch passage each arranged to support a coin on edge, the support in said first passage beingarranged for adjustment to support a single coin or the topmost of a plurality of coins in a position to deflect a coin subsequentlp inserted into said branch passage, a locking device normally acting to locksaid dispensing mechanism against operative movement, releasing means operative to hold said locking device in an inoperative position on operative movement of said dispensing mechanism, when. simultaneously engaged with the coin or the topmost coin on said first main passage support and with either a coin on said second main passage support or a coin on said branch passage support, and means operative to discharge the coins from said supports after said locking device has been moved to inoperative position.

4 6. In a coin controlled dispensing mechanism, main passage for cf;

first main passage being arranged for. vertical;

adjustment to support a single coin or the topmost or a plurality of coins in a position to defiect a coin subsequently inserted into said branch e, and the support in said branch passage being arranged to support a plurality of coins edge to edge, so will be supported adjacent the position in which a coin is supported on the ond main passage, a locking device normally acting to lock said dispensing mechanism against operative movement, releasing means operative to hold said locking device in an inoperative position on operative movement of said dispensing mechanism when simultaneously engaged with a coin, or the topmost coin on said first main passage support, and with either a coin on said second main passage support or a coin on said branch passage support, and means operative to discharge the coins from said supports after said locking device has been moved to inoperative position.

7. In a coin controlled dispensing mechanism having a plurality of operating devices and a pair of coin passages'ifor coins of difierent denominations, supports at the bottom of said pasin an inoperative position on operative movement of said dispensing mechanism when simultaneously engaged with a coin on both of said supports, means arranged for actuation on operative movement of one of said operating devices into a position to be engaged by said releasing means simultaneously with the engagement thereof with a coin on one of said supports, to function therewith to hold said locking device in its operative position, and means operative to discharge the coins from said supports after said dispensing mechanism has been movedbeyond a point where it may be locked.

8. In a coin controlled dispensing mechanism having a plurality of pair of coin passages nominations, supports at the bottom of said-passages for holding coins thereon in predetermined positions, a locking device normally disposed to lock said dispensing mechanism against operation by any one of said operating devices, releasing means operative to move said locking device to an inoperative position on operative movement of said dispensing mechanismwhen simultaneously engaged with a coin on both of said supports, means arranged for actuation on operative movement of one of said operating devices into a position to be engaged by said releasing means simultaneously with the engagement thereof with a coin on one of said supports, to function'itherewith to move said locking device to its inoperative position, and means operative to discharge the coins from said supports after said locking device has been moved to its inoperative position.

9. In a coin controlled= dispensing mechanism having coin receiving and coin restoring passages, a coin support disposed at the entrances to said passages, means, arranged to be actuated by an operative movement of said dispensing mechanism, to move said support to delivera coin thereon to said receiving passage, a deflector disposed'between the entrances to said passages and movable between positions to direct a coin discharged from said support into either of ssid passages, a coin restoring device movable from its normal position successively to move said deflector to its coin restoring position and then to move said coin support to discharge a coin therefrom and means to return the deflector to coin that the topmost coinv support of said sec-- coin thereon to said receiving passage, a

' from,

by an initial movement of said dispensing mechoperating devices and a for coins of diflerent dereceiving position, after said coin restoring device has been returned to normal position.

10. In a coin controlled dispensing mechanism having coin receiving and coin restoring passages, a coin support disposed'at the entrances to said passages, means, arranged to be actuated by an operative movement of said dispensing mechanism, to move said support to deliver a deflector disposed between the entrances to said passages and movable between positions to direct a coin discharged from said support into either of said passages, a coin restoring device movable from its normal position successively to move said deflector to its coin restoring position and then to move said coin support to discharge a coin theremeans to retain said deflector in coin restoring position when said restoring device is returned to normal position, and means operated anism to return said deflector to coin receiving position.

11. In a coin controlled dispensing mechanism having coin receiving and coin restoring passages, a coin support disposed at the entrances to said passages, means, arranged to be actuated by an operative movement of 'said dispensing mechanism, to move said support to deliver a coin thereon to said receiving passage, a deflector disposed between the entrances to said passages and movable between positions to direct a coin discharged from said support into either of said passages, a coin restoring device movable from its normal position successively to move said deflector to its coin restoring position and then to move said coin support to discharge a coin therefrom, means to' retain said deflector in coin re.- storing position when said restoring device is returned to normal position, and means operated by an initial movement of said dispensing mechanism to lock said restoring device against operative movement and to return said deflector to coin receiving position.

12. In a coin controlled dispensing machine having a coin returning passage, a first and a second main coin receiving passage for coins oi! difierent denominations and a branch passage leading from said first main passage, coin supports in each of said main and branch passages, and a retaining device normally operative to prevent a coin deposited on the support of said second main passage from passing into said return passage and arranged to be displaced by a coin deposited on the support of said branch passage and moved to a position to permit a coin on the second main passage support to pass into the return passage.

13. In a coin controlled dispensing mechanism, a locking device normally operative to lock said mechanism against operative movement, a pair of coin supports arranged to hold two coins in adjacent positions, a tiltable releasing device pivdevice with the coins on said supports and hold 7 0 said locking device in an inoperative position, and means operative to discharge the coins from said supports after said releasing device has operated to permit operative movement of said dispensing mechanism.

14. In a coin controlled dispensing mechanism, mechanism, to move said levertc engage the faces a pair of coin supports arranged to hold two 01' said releasing device simultaneously with coins 'coins in adjacent positions, a locking lever noron said supports, whereby said device will be mally operative to lock said mechanism against operative to hold said lever in an inoperative po- 5 I complete operative movement, a tiltable releassition until said mechanism has been moved be- 5 ing device pivotally mounted on said lever and yond a point where it may be locked thereby, and having faces oppositely disposed with relation to means operative to discharge to coins tromsaid its pivot and arranged for simultaneous engagesupports attersaid mechanism has been moved ment, respectively, with coins held on said supbeyond said point.

10 ports, means, arranged to be actuated upon an 10 initial operative movement 01' said dispensing a FRANCIS C. DU GRENIER. 

